* * *
To his Excellency
the Honorable Giorgio Napolitano
President of the Italian Republic
Quirinal Palace
On the occasion in which you have again accepted, with great openness and a spirit of sacrifice, the supreme magistrature of the Italian state as president of the Republic, I would like to offer to you the most sincere and cordial congratulatory expressions and, as I wish for you to continue your enlightened and wise work supported by everyone’s responsible cooperation, I invoke constant divine assistance on your behalf and for your great service to the country and from my heart I convey to you and to the beloved Italian nation the apostolic blessing as an encouragement to build a future of concord, of solidarity and of hope.
Franciscus PP
[Translation by Joseph Trabbic]